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What’s the best way to cook kielbasa? It’s this polish sausage in air fryer recipe! Learn how long to cook kielbasa in air fryer, air fryer kielbasa temperature, and more. You’ll love this air fryer polish sausage that’s perfectly moist and juicy. Kielbasa in the air fryer is low carb, gluten free, and keto friendly, and absolutely delicious! Don’t serve your pierogi and potatoes without it!
➕ What is kielbasa?
Kielbasa (AKA Polish sausage) is a meat sausage from Polish cuisine. In the US, it is a cured sausage most commonly sold in a “u” shape. It is typically made of pork, beef, or a combination of beef and pork.
Polska kielbasa is often smoked sausage, though you can also find it uncooked and fresh. Some popular US brands of kielbasa include Hillshire, Butterball, Jennie-O, Boar’s Head, and Johnsonville Polish kielbasa rope sausage.
Today, you’ll learn how to cook precooked kielbasa. You can make whole kielbasa in air fryer or kielbasa dogs in air fryer, the directions are the same.
Is kielbasa sausage cooked?
In general, yes, kielbasa is precooked. This means a fast cooking time for you to reheat it!
⭐ How to Cook Polish Sausage in Air Fryer
Making air fryer kielbasa is pretty much the easiest thing ever. You just pop the sausage in the air fryer, cook, slice and serve.
You can make air fryer Polish sausage in a Ninja Foodi, Philips, Nuwave, Pampered Chef, Actifry, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Breville, or another air fryer. However, you may need to make slight adjustments to the cooking times depending on your air fryer.
Place the kielbasa rope or kielbasa links in your air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray. If you have an air fryer oven, place the tray in the top rack position. No oil or cooking spray is needed because kielbasa is a fatty meat.
⏲️ How long do you cook kielbasa?
How long to cook kielbasa in the air fryer? What temperature to cook kielbasa in air fryer? Air fry Polish sausage for a total of 7-10 minutes in an air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177C).
That’s it! There’s no need to flip them. I like to check they’ve reached the minimum safe temp for leftovers of 165F (74C) with a meat thermometer.
After cooking, let the sausages rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Kielbasa doesn’t tend to drip a lot of grease, so it shouldn’t make your air fryer smoke. If it does, you can put a little water or a piece of bread in the drip pan to catch the fat.
I prefer to cut the sausages into pieces after cooking so they don’t dry out. I don’t poke holes in the kielbasa before cooking for the same reason, so all the juices stay inside. Yum!
Fresh Polish Sausage in Air Fryer
Uncooked polish sausage in air fryer takes 9-12 minutes at 400F (200C). Make sure the sausage reaches a safe minimum internal temperature of 160F (71C) for pork or beef, or 165F (74C) for chicken.
How to cook frozen kielbasa in air fryer?
You can make air fryer frozen kielbasa without thawing! Air fry frozen kielbasa for 12-15 minutes at 375F (190C), flipping halfway through cooking time.
How to cook turkey kielbasa in air fryer?
To make a turkey kielbasa air fryer recipe, you can air fry them as you would pork or beef kielbasa. Kielbasa made with turkey can be a good option for those on lower fat or kosher diets.
🌡️ Can you freeze kielbasa?
Yes, kielbasa freezes well! Place kielbasa in a freezer bag with the air pressed out and you can store it in the freezer for months.
Alternatively, keep leftover cooked kielbasa in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat kielbasa in a microwave, an air fryer, or a skillet on the stovetop.
😋 What to Serve with Kielbasa
Want to know what to serve with kielbasa? Mustard or other dipping sauces are a classic choice. Here is a recipe for vegan honey mustard if you’d like to make your own.
Here are some side dishes for kielbasa:
- Pierogies in Air Fryer
- Fermented Red Cabbage Sauerkraut
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Smoked Mac and Cheese
I’ve also used air fryer smoked sausage as an ingredient in soups, salads, and casseroles. It’s a tasty way to add more flavor to a variety of meals.
Watch How to Make It!
Polish Sausage in Air Fryer (Kielbasa Recipe with Time and Temp)
Ingredients
- 13-16 ounces Kielbasa sausage (369-454 grams fully cooked Polish sausage)
- mustard (optional)
Instructions
- Place the kielbasa rope or kielbasa links in your air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray. If you have an air fryer oven, place the tray in the top rack position.
- Air fry kielbasa sausages for a total of 7-10 minutes in an air fryer at 350°F (177°C).
- Check they’ve reached the minimum safe temperature of 165°F (74°C) with a meat thermometer.
- If at the safe temp, let rest for 5 minutes before slicing on the diagonal and serving with mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Is kielbasa good for weight loss? Kielbasa is a fatty meat that is high calorie compared to some other protein options. When served with buttery pierogi and sauerkraut, you’re getting a low volume, high cal, high fat, and high sodium (but delicious) meal. That said, kielbasa does offer some benefits, including high-quality protein and highly bioavailable essential minerals, such as iron and zinc. Kielbasa is too high in sodium for those following a low-sodium diet and most brands are highly processed meat (like hot dogs). Though some people enjoy large plates of just sausage on the keto diet, adding some veggies may be a smart move. Veggies add fiber, low calorie volume, and an assortment of beneficial phytochemicals not present in meat. The kielbasa bowl recipe below gives you all of the delicious flavors from a plate of kielbasa and pierogi, without any refined flour. If you skip the potatoes, you get a low-carb meal prep that may help support your weight loss goals. (That said, it’s still not the best choice for those looking to reduce saturated fat intake.) For a lower fat kielbasa options, get the lite Polska kielbasa or turkey kielbasa. The flavor isn’t quite the same as full fat kielbasa, but it works as an acceptable substitution IMO. Here’s one of my favorite recipes for kielbasa bowls. I know you’re going to enjoy it!Recipes For Kielbasa Sausage
For the kielbasa bowls:
- 1 finished recipe Air Fryer Kielbasa, sliced diagonally
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 medium onions, cut into half-moons ¼-inch thick
- 2 medium green peppers, cut into ¼-inch thick strips
- 8 cups herb salad mix
- 4 ounces feta or farmer’s cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup Lebanese pickles (or other fermented veggies)
- 24 ounces Yukon gold potatoes, chopped (680 grams)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Mix all ingredients on the “For the potatoes” list together.
- Spread the potato mixture in a single layer on a metal rimmed baking tray. Roast for 25 minutes. stir them around, and then roast for another 25 minutes.
- Work on the rest of the dish while the potatoes cook.
- Put all of the “For the kielbasa dressing” ingredients together in a jar. Put a lid on the jar and give it a good shake.
- Warm 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a skillet on the stovetop. Add the onions and peppers and cook for 20-30 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally.
- Divide the greens between four salad bowls. Top with the onions and peppers, kielbasa, cheese, and fermented veggies. Drizzle with the dressing right before serving.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
📋 Kielbasa Calories
One serving of air fryer kielbasa has 263 calories, zero net carbs, and 19 grams protein. This is for a 3.5-ounce (99 gram) link of beef Polska kielbasa that is sugar-free. Nutrition information will vary depending on type of kielbasa, brand, portion size, and whether it has no sugar.
👨🏾🍳 Other Air Fryer Sausage Recipes
Looking for more air fryer recipes using sausages? Here are some ideas:
Also, don’t miss the entire collection of Air Fryer Recipes!
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
What splendid variety, Summer! Not only does your salad cover a range of textures, but it also excites diverse tastes. And just look at those colors!
I once read the most flavorful and nutritious meals draw from a rainbowed palate. If so, yours illustrates that point beautifully.
Oh, I wouldn’t be in much of a mood to share either.
Thanks a bunch! The comment about the colors is right on because the different pigments in plants are often indicators that they contain different non-essential but likely beneficial phytonutrients! Eating the fruit/veg rainbow is definitely recommended.
Well then, Summer, color=nutrition? Sure, those who follow your advice, then, are bound to reach 160 – and to have a delicious trip there!
By the way, I’m going to have to learn how to use emoticons and other graphics. I mean, right now, it seems like sorcery, but I’m beginning to suspect it isn’t. Not entirely, at least.
If you search “emoji paste” there are sites where you can copy and paste emojis if you are on a laptop. Otherwise I use the emoji keyboard on my phone
I remember a study advising to aim for the consumption of at least 30 plant types per week. There aren’t many who reach that number! Most eat the same few fruits and veg repetitively.